May 28, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray (left) with head coach Dan Bylsma as he holds a jersey with owners Terry Pagula and Kim Pagula at a press conference at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Tim Redinger, Senior Editor – SabreNoise
The Buffalo Sabres weren’t lying when they wanted this to be a three to four year rebuild. Of course no one was figuring on the Buffalo Sabres counting the two years at the bottom as part of the rebuild. Just as fast as Tim Murray came on board when he was hired he has put together his roster, and to me it all started by adding a coach that knows what it takes to coach young good players, and win with them.
I was honestly not surprised that the Buffalo Sabres were active traders at the NHL Draft – but what they traded for and how they got to it surprised me. I was expecting Tim Murray to utilize the 21st pick in the draft, as well as the 31st pick to move up in the first round and land somewhere in the vicinity of the mid teens, you know – the spot on the draft where the Boston Bruins took over the draft.
I was a little shocked that the Buffalo Sabres used a first round pick to get a goaltender, but a need is a need. Where you think they may have overpaid – if you just swap out the picks in the two trades (move the 21st pick to the O’Reilly trade, and the 31st to the Lehner trader) then they make more sense, and the Buffalo Sabres may have been able to retain J.T. Compher.
There are tons of opinions on what took place this weekend, but the resounding fact of the matter is – the Buffalo Sabres made the jump from pathetic tank to competitive with the blink of an eye.
Stay with us as we continue to give you opinion on the off season moves through free agency.
Next: Buffalo Sabres Round Table - Free Agency Options
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